Rangers travel to take on Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season today…
Celtic starting line-up: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham; Forrest, Rogic, McGregor; Edouard.
Celtic substitutes: Bain, Griffiths, Sinclair, Gamboa, Christie, Benkovic, Kouassi
Rangers starting line-up: McGregor; Tavernier, Katic, Goldson, Barisic; Jack, Ejaria, Arfield; Kent, Lafferty, Morelos.
Rangers substitutes: Foderingham, McCrorie, Flanagan, Worrall, Halliday, Middleton, Candeias.
Celtic play host to their bitter rivals today just days after seeing off FK Suduva to make it through to the Europa League group stage.
The Bhoys head into the game after a fairly disappointing transfer window, which was capped off with the sale of striker Moussa Dembele to Lyon on deadline day less than 48 hours ago.
Celtic are still the dominant force in Scotland though and will be looking to quash Rangers’ strong start under Steven Gerrard, who of course played under Bhoys manager Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.
Rodgers has gone with a familiar back line, as Craig Gordon starts in goal, with a four-man defence of Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyata, Kristoffer Ajer and Kieran Tierney ahead of him.
Olivier Ntcham partners Scott Brown in midfield, with Callum McGregor, Rangers nemesis Tom Rogic and James Forrest supporting lone striker Odsonne Edouard, with the Frenchman thriving against the Gers in their last meeting at Parkhead.
New signing Filip Benkovic is on the bench alongside Scott Bain, Cristian Gamboa, Eboue Kouassi, Ryan Christie, Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths, with Youssouf Mulumbu not included.
Meanwhile, Rangers are on a real high after their Europa League qualification, seeing off Russian side FC Ufa despite playing a huge chunk of Thursday’s second leg with nine men.
That may have tired out Gerrard’s squad, but he has stuck with much of the same team, with goalkeeper Allan McGregor keeping his place, along with defenders James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic.
Borna Barisic comes back in at left back having been cup-tied on Thursday, with Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and in-form Ovie Ejaria featuring in the middle of the park.
Ryan Kent features out wide, as does Kyle Lafferty, enabling Alfredo Morelos to lead the line as Gerrard goes with a fascinating front three this afternoon.
New signing Joe Worrall is on the bench for the Gers, joining Wes Foderingham, Ross McCrorie, Jon Flanagan, Andy Halliday, Glenn Middleton and Daniel Candeias.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
